Handling device

ABSTRACT

An article supporting surface, such as for handling sheets of glass provides an air cushion for supporting the sheets and suction for holding sheets against the surface. The surface is articulated and tilts and is mounted on tracks so that the sheets may be handled and moved.

United States Patent Raes 1 1 Oct. 3, 1972 54] HANDLING DEVICE [56]References Cited [72] inventor: Andre Raes, Brussels, Belgium UNTEDSTATES PATENTS [73] Assign: f ff 2,538,972 1/1951 Magnani ..214/1 8 x Se 2,678,237 5/1954 Allander et a1. .....214/1 BE x [22] Filed: June 17,1970 3,477,558 11/1969 Fleischauer ..214/1 BE X [21] App1.No.: 46,990

Primary Examiner-Gera1d M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Frank E. Werner[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Atmmey Spencer and Kaye June 17,1969 Luxembourg ..58,894

[57] ABSTRACT [52] Us Cl 214/1 Q 214/8 5 D 214/1 BE An articlesupporting surface, such as for handling /26 305/31 R 302/12 sheets ofglass provides an air cushion for supporting 51] Int Cl ..B65g 7/00 thesheets and sum) for Oldimg Sheets against [58] Field Dist-aid. ..214/18, 1 BE, 8.5 D, 8.5 E, Surface The Surface i articulated and tilts andis 214/1 Q; 302/29, 31; 271/26 R, 26 E mounted on tracks so that thesheets may be handled and moved.

20 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTED B 3,695,459

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HANDLING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present inventionrelates to a device for handling articles, wherein an article issupported by one or more supporting surfaces for at least a part of thehandling time, completely or partly on a supporting fluid in contactwith the supporting surface.

Handling devices are known in which articles are handled while they arecarried by a supporting fluid, a gas or a liquid. These devices areadvantageous for handling articles in which the supporting surface ishorizontal or substantially so. However, fluid supports as a rule havedisadvantages due to the absence of friction and the articles can not bereadily immobilized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION celerated, decelerated, and have its directionchanged.

A further object is to provide such a device in which the article can beimmobilized.

Yet another object is to provide a device of the type described which isparticularly useful in handling sheets of glass and for quickly andefficiently positioning the sheets to prevent them from moving duringcutting or the detection of possible faults.

. These objects and others are accomplished by the present inventionwhich utilizes a fluid support but which is much more versatile than theknown devices. A device according to the invention comprises at leastone article supporting member and means for forming at least one fluidcushion capable of supporting at least partly an article for beinghandled. At least one means capable of applying a pressure lower thanthe ambient pressure is placed under at least a part of the positionprovided for the article such that the article can be attracted towardsthe article supporting member.

Other advantages of the device are due to the fact that the same surfaceor surfaces are used for fluid support and control of movement, moreparticularly im mobilization. The area in contact with the other surfacetherefore always remains completely and permanently free for alloperations to be performed thereto, for instance, cutting. The result isthe elimination of inoperative periods as in handling by known devicesfor the withdrawal of the handling members used in contact with saidother surface.

In one embodiment of the invention the article continues to be supportedby the fluid during the application of lower pressure. In this way theoperation of disconnecting the fluid support is obviated from thesuccession of operations to be preformed.

Advantageously the article supporting member forms part of the means forapplying the lower pressure i.e., the article supporting member not onlyacts as a stop for the movement of the article under the effect of lowerpressure, but it also acts as an integral part of the device forapplying lower pressure to the article.

Preferably the means for applying lower pressure are means for suckingthe fluid under the place destined for the article to be handled. Forinstance, these means can be pumps, fans, or other analogous devices forsucking in the fluid. This embodiment is advantageous because it permitsutilizing the same fluid support as well as for applying lower pressureand, on. the other hand, it eliminates the inoperative periods whichotherwise would be needed to evacuate the supporting fluid beforeapplying the lower pressure.

Preferably the means for forming at least one fluid support are formedby means for circulating a pressurized fluid and means for emittingfluid in the direction of the article to be handled. These means enablearticles of very different dimensions to be supported.

Preferably the means for circulating a pressurized fluid and the meansfor applying lower pressure are incorporated in a common fluid circuitso that the means of the second type feed the means of the first type.This reduces further the time needed for displacing the articles to behandled from a position. where they are supported by a fluid support toa position where they are applied against the article supportingmembers.

In one embodiment of the invention the means for emitting fluidareconnected both to means for producing the lower pressure and to meansfor circulating the supporting fluid, via connecting; and disconnectingmeans for each of these two connections separately. In this way themeans for emitting fluid are also used as means for applying lowerpressure, so that there is no further need to provide the two means forapplying pressure and lower pressure than the ambient pressure under theposition foreseen for the article.

Preferably the means for emitting the fluid are formed by at least onebox provided with apertures which extend at least over substantially thewhole extent of the articles to be handled, which permits theapplication on the surface of the article, a fluid support for thearticle as well as a lower pressure than the ambient pressure bothsubstantially uniformly distributed. This is more particularlyadvantageous for the handling of large very thin fragile sheets whichmay be broken if seized by suckers located at a few places. Since thebox is normally flat, handling without breakage is particularly easy.

In one variant the fluid supporting means and the means for applyinglower pressure are distributed in distinct zones along the positionforeseen for the pieces to be handled. Consequently, a fluid support canbe maintained under a part of the pieces to be handled during the use oflower pressure.

Advantageously the device comprises means for emitting fluid whichglobally have a component of predetermined direction, to exert a thrustfor the displacement of the article.

Also, advantageously, it comprises driving members and means forpositioning the driving members towards the position foreseen for anarticle to be handled.

This provides for the article to make a mechanically defined movement,thus facilitating the automation of handling. Preferably, thepositioning means can displace the entraining members from a workingposition allowing the entraining of the an article placed above and inthe vicinity of the article supporting member, to a position of restdifferent of that occupied by the article when the latter is supportedabove the article sup porting member by at least on supporting fluid.This allows the entraining members to be moved out of sheet engagingposition for applying the article against the article supportingmembers. It allows also applying different members provided forentraining in different directions, successively against an inferiorsurface of the pieces to be handled, i.e., that the article can beentrained selectively in these different directions.

Advantageously, the positioning means depend on the means which allowthe formation of at least one fluid support. Particularly, thesepositioning means can utilize the fluid pressure needed for theformation of the fluid support, for bringing the entraining means incontact with the articles to be handled. Thus, much easier than with themechanical devices, a suitable positioning of the entraining members canbe realized with the article to be handled, whose position on the fluidsupport varies in relation to its weight. The contact pressure of theentraining members can be kept sufficiently constant in spite of thisvariation in position of the articles. In one embodiment of the devicein which endless belts are used as entraining members, lifting jacksdriven by the pressurized fluid used for the formation of the fluidsupport can be employed for displacing the belts and their entrainingpulleys towards and/or against the article to be handled.

In one embodiment the entraining members are formed by at least twobelts of concurrent directions and independent positioning means areprovided for the belts of different directions to 'enable only the beltto be brought into contact with only the article whose directioncoincides with the direction selected for the displacement of thearticle.

At least one belt can be associated with means for emitting supportingfluid beneath the run adapted to entrain the article, so as to apply therun at pressure to the article.

Preferably articulating and tilting means are provided for the articlesupporting members and such means advantageously enable the articlesupporting members to be substantially completely turned over. Thisembodiment is advantageous to produce symmetrical pairs of sheets ofglass for instance, the upper surfaces of the two sheets on thehorizontal conveyor both coming into position on the outside or insideof the pair, as desired. This operation is needed especially for themanufacture of some double glazings. A horizontal pile of sheets canalso be formed, for instance, in a case, without the upper surface ofthe sheet being impeded when it leaves the horizontal conveyor to beadded to the stack.

According to one feature of the invention at least one lower structurewhich can be displaced on a track is connected to the article supportingmember by means of articulation. This allows an increased mobility andutility of the device. This arrangement is particularly advantageouswhen sheets have to be taken off and then added or conversely to thestacks, the stillages or other similar apparatus, at a distance fromeach other. Advantageously, the track of the lower structure can,according to one feature of the invention, be part of a body which canbe displaced on a second track substantially perpendicular with thefirst track.

In one embodiment of the invention it comprises means for moving away atleast a marginal zone of the contact surface of the member in thedirection thereof; preferably, these means are means for deforming themember.

This is particularly advantageous when sheets have to be taken off asubstantially vertical stack. In fact, it is sometimes very difficult toremove a sheet from a substantially vertical stack, because of theeffect of suction between the sheet and the remainder of the stack. Bydeforming the member in the manner stated, the suction effect isobviated, by progressively moving away one or more marginal zones of thesheet, thus enabling atmospheric air to occupy the space between thesheet and the stack without delay.

Preferably the means for moving away at least a marginal zone of thesurface of the member are apparatus such as pneumatic or hydraulicjacks, allowing deforming automatically a marginal zone of the contactsurface of the member when this is pressed against the stack of sheets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the plane definedby reference line IIII in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view, similar to FIG. 2, through adifferent embodiment of the device.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a particular embodiment of the device.

FIG. 5 is a partial diagrammatic view of an alternative embodiment ofthe apparatus as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 6 is a partial diagrammatic view of a hinge which can be unlocked,such as it is used in the embodiment shown on FIG. 4.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrammatic cross sections relating to details of analternative embodiment of the box shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In the figures, analogous parts bear the same reference numbers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a device accordingto the invention comprising a lower frame 1, an upper frame 2, an apron3 and a box 4. Lower frame 1 (shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1) can bemoved over a track 8' by means of wheels 8 and can be made, forinstance, of rolled iron bars welded to one another and moved by ahydraulic or electric motor 8". The upper frame 2 (also showndiagrammatically) is mounted on parallel rails attached to the lowerframe 1 over which the upper frame 2 can move by means of wheels 10perpendicularly to the movement of the lower frame 1. The upper frame 2can, for instance, take the form of a rigid frame moved by a pneumaticcylinder 9.

The apron 3 can tilt around a pivot forming part of a hinge 12 attachedto the upper frame 2. To this end the apron is actuated by a telescopicjack 15 mounted on swivel joints 16, 17.

As shown in FIG. I, the apron 3 occupies an intermediate positionbetween the end positions i.e., the horizontal position and a positionforming an angle slightly greater than therewith.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the apron 3 is formed by two U-sections-21 rigidly interconnected by struts 22a-22d also formed by U-sections.The box 4 is formed by two panels 25, 26 connected by wooden struts 27.The upper panel is formed with apertures 28 and lined with a felt cover29 formed with apertures 30. The box 4 is connected to the apron 3 byfour screwthreaded rods 33 extending through the panel 26 via holes 34.Two of the rods extend through the strut 22d via holes 35, 36 with whichits flanges are formed, while the two other rods extend in a similarmanner through the strut 22a. The rod 33 terminates at one end in a head38 which is wedged to the panel 26 by a nut 39. A gasket 40 is disposedbetween the head 38 and the nut 39. At the other end of the rod 33 thereis screwed a nut 41 which limits the movement apart of the box 4 and theapron 3.

A spring 44 disposed around the rod 33 between the nut 39 and the apron3 retains the box in a position away from the apron 3. This spring alsoacts as a shock absorber for any shock or pressure exerted on the box 4.Clearly, other shock absorbing members could be used, such as pneumaticor oil shock absorbers.

A stop 48 is disposed between button box 4 and the apron 3 and attachedto the latter via a nut 49 and a screwthreaded rod 50 unitary with thestop. The rod 50 extends through the flanges of the strut 22d via holes51, 52. A switch 59 whose control member slightly extends beyond theupper plane of the stop 48 is rigidly attached thereon via an attachment46. The electric connection 592 of the switch 59 forms part of thecircuits of a control. The same comprise various devices such as 59,their connections such as 592, one block 595 fastened on the upper frame2 and a stationary panel 590, these two latter ones being connected bymeans of connections 597. They are constituted of electric, pneumaticand hydraulic circuits or of some of those types only. The differentconnections between the various members of the device are performed bymeans of cables and soft conduits. The panel 590 bears push-buttons 591for controlling the various operations of the device and comprisingpreferably sequential control devices permitting one push on a singlebottom or switch to carry out several successive elementary operations.

Two pairs of endless belts 57, 57' and 61, 61' form the sides of arectangle around the panel 25 and extend over four corresponding pairsof pulleys 56, 56 and 60, The cross-beams 571 and 572 bearing the shaftsof these pulleys are mounted in such a way so as to be dis placed inrelation to the apron along the guides 573connected to block 595 bymeans of connection 596. This is only shown in the upper part of FIG. 2with a view to simplifying the other parts of the drawings. The jacks 25enable the pulley shafts to be raised and lowered so that in the raisedposition the upper run of the belts is in plane somewhat higher thanthat of the panel 25, and in the bottom position, as shown in FIGS. 1and 2, the upper run of the belts is in a plane lower than that of thepanel 25. When the object to be manipulated has a smaller size than thedistance between 2 parallel belts, the same can be manipulated by onlyone of the said belts.

Each of the belts is driven by a motor such as an electric motor 574having two rotation senses, connected by cable 575 to panel 590.

When the box 25 is in the horizontal position and when it is intended todisplace the object to be manipulated in a selected direction, the pairof corresponding belts is set in motion in the corresponding sense andsimultaneously the corresponding; jacks 25 are actuated for raising thesaid belts.

Two fans 75, 75a driven by a motor 76, 76a, connected to block 595 byconnection 761, 761a respectively, are in communication with the box 4via a conduit 77, 77a, respectively. The object of the fan 75 is toinduce excess pressure in the box 4, while the fan 75a induces a lowerpressure than the ambient pressure therein. The circuits prevent the twofans from being put in operation simultaneously. In the followingdescription this lower pressure than the ambient pressure shall bereferred to as depression. To this end the conduits 77, 77a each have aflap 771, 771a. As soon as a fan comes into operation, its correspondingflap opens automatically, while the flap corresponding to the other fancloses automatically. These automatic openings and closings arecontrolled, for instance, by an electromagnet connected in parallel withthe motor 76, 76a, the purpose of which is to open the flap, the closingbeing carried out by means of a return spring not shown.

Two jacks 65, 65' connected to block 595 by connections 651, 651' andeach composed of a cylinder 66, 66' a piston 67, 67' and a rod 68, 68'are mounted on hinges 69, and 69', 70' unitary, respectively, with theapron 3 and the box 4. These jacks 65, 65, when actuated, slightlyattract the two upper corresponding corners of the box 4 in thedirection of the apron 3 while the middle part of the upper edge of thebox 4 is coming in abutment against stop 48. When the box 4 is underdepression and attracts a sheet of glass in stock, for instance,vertically on a stillage, the actuated jacks 65, 65' cause the upperpart of the loose end of the sucked sheet of glass to be curved; in sucha way the upper corners of the sheet are detached from the subjacentsheet in the stack before the remainder of the sheet, thus enablingatmospheric air to be introduced between the two sheets so that they candisengage from one another satisfactorily.

According to a further feature of the invention, more than two jackssuch as 65 and 65 and provided for attracting a marginal part of the box4 extending over the entire width of the box 4 towards the apron 3. Forinstance between the jacks 65 and 65' which act on the correspondingcorners of the box 4, one or more jacks are disposed depending on thewidth of the box, so as to attract, in the best possible uniformity, amarginal part of the box 4 towards the apron 3. In this case, severalstops similar to stop 48, but not shown, are disposed at the level offan 76a, while the upper stop 48 is not provided.

For an initial period, the apron 3 and the box 4 are in a horizontalposition and one side of the box is close to and parallel with theterminal edge of a sheet conveyor. The motor 76 is rotated so that thefan induces excess pressure in the box 4. The air under excess pressurein the box escapes through the holes 28 in the panel 25. The pair ofbelts perpendicular to the terminal edge of the conveyor is brought intothe top position. The sheet arrives at the box 4 floating on a cushionof air set up by the excess pressure in the box, while being guided andentrained by the belts of the particular pair concerned. At the end ofits travel over the box 4, the sheet actuates a switch 251 connected toblock 595 by connection 252, its action is slightly delayed by anadjustable system such as a minute motionwork. The switch controls thestoppage and descent of the pair of belts and also controls the stoppageof the motor 76 and the starting of the motor 76a, thus setting up adepression in the box 4 so that the sheet of glass is attracted andretained in contact with the panel 25 of the box covered with the feltcover 29. The switch also controls the rising of the apron 3 into theposition exceeding the vertical, by rotation under the action of thejack 15 around the hinge 12 whose axis is parallel with the terminaledge of the conveyor.

To unload the sheet onto a stillage, the lower frame 1 is displaced in asuitable manner over its track and so if necessary is the upper frame 2in a direction perpendicular to the displacement of the lower frame 1.These two movements can moreover be executed partly simultaneously andduring the lifting operation. The jack 15, for instance, can be actuatedby a variable flow pump so that the tilting speed can be keptsubstantially constant in spite of the graduation of the diameters ofthe stages of the jack, but also allows acceleration at the start, highspeed lifting, and deceleration on arrival. The apron 3 is thus broughtinto a plane extending by a number of degrees, for instance beyond thevertical so that the box is parallel with that surface of the stillageon which the sheet is to be laid.

This latter operation is performed as follows: the upper frame 2 isdisplaced either relatively to the frame 1 or together therewith inrelation to the ground, in dependence on the orientation of thestillage. The sheet thus encounters that surface of the stillage ontowhich it is to be unloaded or if necessary the surface of the stack ofsheets already loaded on the stillage. The movement of the frame 2continues, however, so as to produce satisfactory'contact between thesheet and the stillage, even if at first contact the sheet is notstrictly parallel with such surface. The apron 3 then comes close to thebox 4 and the springs 44 are compressed. The lower panel 26 of the box 4then contacts the control member 47 of the switch 59 which then stopsthe frame 2. The motor 760 is then stopped and the sheet, which is nolonger sucked by the box under depression, remains deposited on thestillage when the device is brought into the initial position for thestart of a fresh identical operation. The necessary elementaryoperations are performed by appropriate circuits of known types of thecontrol device.

The sheet can also be placed in a horizontal or substantially horizontalplane, for instance on a stack of horizontal sheets, in which case theapron 3 is allowed to tilt through 180. To this end, instead of beingtilted by a single jack, the apron 3 can be controlled by two jacksacting in series, as shown in FIG. 5 where the corresponding membershave the same reference numbers as in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The jack is replaced by two jacks 251, 252 of the same type, articulatedtogether on the shaft 253 and, respectively, by the shaft 16 on theupper frame 2 and by the shaft 17 on the apron 3. The shaft 253 isconnected to the shaft of the hinge 12 by a connecting rod 254. Theapron 3 is shown in continuous line in its final position after arotation of l8(), i.e. after a complete turn; the starting position ofthe apron 3 before turning is shown in dotted lines. Each jack isprovided for executing a rotation of about they may be operated eithersimultaneously or successively.

The sheet can also be placed on another horizontal conveyor withouttilting in which case only the frames 1 or 2 or 1 and 2 movehorizontally and the apron 3 is not tilted. If the second conveyor isperpendicular to the first, after the sheet has been admitted onto thebox, and if necessary after the horizontal displacements of the frames1, 2, the pair of guiding belts perpendicular to the terminal edge ofthe second conveyor is brought into the top position and starts rotatingat the same time as the excess pressure is set up in the box at producea cushion of air which will support the sheet during its displacementtowards the second conveyor.

The device also allows the unstacking, sheet by sheet, of a stack ofsheets disposed on a stillage or, when the apron 3 is tiltedhorizontally by two jacks, in a sacking case, for instance.

To unstack the sheets from a stillage, the apron 3 is tilted until theplane of the box is parallel with the plane of the sheet to beunstacked, and the box is then directed towards the storage stillage bythe movement of the lower frame 1 and the upper frame 2. When the box 4contacts the sheet to be unstacked, the upper frame continues to move.Consequently, the upper panel 25 of the box 4 perfectly fits over thesurface of the sheet to be unstacked.

As it continues its travel, the upper frame brings the box 4 and theapron 3 close together. The latter movement, and also the impact causedby the contact between the box 4 and the sheet are absorbed by springs44. The box 4 then contacts the switch 47 which, after actuating theright push-buttons on the control panel, puts the box under depressionand actuates the jacks 65,65 which attract the two upper corners of thebox 4 towards the apron 3. As a result of the depression in the box, thewhole surface of the sheet to be unstacked sticks to the upper panel 25of the box, and the upper corners of the sheet follow the upper cornersof the box in their movements towards the apron. Consequently, the uppercorners of the sheet to be unstacked are disengaged from the subjacentsheet and ambient air can be readily introduced between the sheet beinghandled and the subjacent sheet.

The upper frame 2 is then moved away from the stillage and the ambientair is then readily introduced over the whole boundary surface betweenthe sheet being handled and the subjacent sheet. This avoids thedisadvantage of two sheets or more being simultaneously sucked by thebox 4. After suitable movements of the apron 3 and the lower frame 1 andthe upper frame 2, the sheet the sheet can then be deposited on anotherstillage, a horizontal stack or a conveyor, in the same way as thatdescribed hereinbefore.

The operation of unstacking the following sheet can then start andcontinue in the same way. Clearly, as soon as a sheet has left thestillage, the jacks 65, 65 can be relaxed.

The operation of unstacking sheets from a horizontal stack is verysimilar, but with the difference that in that case it is not the upperframe 2 which continues its travel after the box has contacted thesheet, but the tilting movement of the apron 3 continues after contactbetween the sheet and the box.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view analogous to FIG. 2, showing anotherembodiment of the device according to the invention. A U-section 80belongs to the frame forming the apron 3. Its struts 81,81 (alsoU-sections) are attached perpendicularly to the sections 80. The box 4is replaced by depression members 84 and excess pressure members 85. Thedepression member 84 is' formed by a chamber 86 attached to the apronand formed by an end wall 87, side walls 88,88 and a top wall 89 formedwith apertures 90. A suction conduit 91 connects the chamber 86 tomember 91' which sets up a depression, such as a fan. An excess pressuremember 85 is formed by a hollow shaft 100 formed with apertures 101 androtated by a reversible motor 102.

The hollow shaft 100 is retained in reach by axle stubs 102 supported bybearings attached to the apron. A conduit 105 connects the inside of thehollow shaft 100 in sealing-tight relationship with a member producingan excess pressure, such as a fan 100. Flat irons 106 attached to theapron are covered with a felt cover 107 to protect the lower surface ofa sheet 110 against any rough contact contact with rigid members.

In operation, when the apron is in the horizontal position, the sheetmoves from the conveyor over the box under the action of the air underexcess pressure distributed by holes 101 in the rotated hollow cylinder100. These jets of air, which create the air cushion supporting thesheet, have a horizontal component which acts on the sheet and displacesit horizontally. For directions of forward movement of the sheet asshown by the arrows A and A, respectively, the hollow cylinder 100 isrotated in different directions.

The application of an excess pressure by these means realizes bothsupport and advance of the sheet on the air cushion and assures at thesame time the guiding of the sheet, so that guiding means such as beltsmay be obviated.

At the required moment, during the forward movement of the sheet overthe air cushion, the chambers 86 are put under depression. The sheet istherefore subjected to this depression by the holes 90 in tlie top wall89 and is retained against the cover 107. The depres sion member 84 andthe excess pressure member 85 can take up the whole width of the box andsucceed one another. Alternatively, they can occupy only a portion ofthe box, in which case the depression and excess pressure members aredisposed in checkerboard fashion, the members succeeding one another notonly in the length of the box but also in its width.

. This embodiment is advantageous, for instance, to inspect faults insheets in a continuous line. Each sheet can be supported and advanced bythe excess pressure members of the device and retained by the depressionmembers. The stoppage of the sheet for inspection and detection orfaults can therefore very readily be performed without having to stopthe excess pressure members. The depression members retain the sheet ina fixed position enabling it to be inspected and faults to be located.When these operations are completed, the depression members are put outof operation and the sheet is immediately evacuated. The checkerboardarrangement of the depression and excess pressure members can be used asthe network giving the coordinates for fault location. Moreover, excesspressure members 85 can be disposed in two directions perpendicular toone another, thus enabling the sheet to advance in two directions andfour senses. This latter embodiment is particularly advantageous for thehandling of sheets of non-standardized sizes and small sizes.

When the transported sheet occupies its final position on the box, thesheet can actuate one or more switches such as switch 251 (FIG. 1) whichstop the excess pressure members and the tilting of the apron, but insome cases it is preferred to keep up the excess pressure permanently,with a view to simplifying the control apparatus. The other unloadingoperations are similar to those set forthwith reference to FIGS. 1 and2.

When the sheet is not to be advanced by the action of jets of air havinga horizontal component, instead of the rotary excess pressure members85, immobile excess pressure members can be used, such as, for instance,members similar to the members 84, but setting up an excess pressure. Inthis case the same member can successively set up depression and thenexcess pressure.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a device according to the invention.

The upper panel of the box .is formed with multiple holes 151. In thisembodiment the apron has four pairs of hinges, shown diagrammatically as152, 152' and 153, 153' and 154, 154' and 155, 155 which can beunlocked. Under the action of a telescopic jack 157 attached by swiveljoints to the apron and the box, the apron can tilt around any of thepairs of hinges, on condition that the three other pairs. are unlocked.The hinges 152, 152' 155, 155' are constructed to be of the type asshown in FIG. 6. The upper frame, analogous with the upper frame 2(FIGS. 1 and 2), carries the piece which forms the three bearings 181,182, 183; the apron analogous with apron 3 (FIGS. 1 and 2) carries thepiece 184 which forms the bearing 185. These four bearings are inalignment when the apron rests freely on the upper frame; in unlockedposition, the shaft 186 rests only on the bearings 182 and 183 and thebearing 185 may thus be removed with the apron. The shaft 186 is fixedto the rod 187 of the jack 188 connected via the connection 189 to acontrol block analogous with block 595. In order to lock the hinge, thejack 188 is operated so as to push the shaft 186 up to the bearing 181across the bearing 185 of the apron. Two pairs of endless guide belts160, 161 and 162, 163 rotate around wheels attached to the apron and canoccupy an upper level and a lower level. The lower frame can move overtrack 165 and the upper frame can move over the lower frame in adirection perpendicular to the movement thereof. As a result of thesetwo movements which are perpendicular to one another and the rotation ofthe apron around each of the four pairs of hinges, the box 150 canreceive, for instance, sheets from a horizontal conveyor 170, depositthe sheets horizontally on a stack of sheets 172 or in a plane close tothe vertical on stillages 173, 174, just as the box can eject broken orfaulty sheets into a cullet hopper 175, which is used more particularlywhen the sheets handled are made of glass.

FIG. 7 shows a modification of the feeding means of box 4 in FIGS. 1 and2 in excess pressure and depression utilizing one only fan 190. This fanis equipped with a motor 191 fed via the connection 192, with a suctionduct 193, and with an exit pipe 194, both connected to the box 4. Thesetwo circuits are equipped each with a flap 195, 196 at two positions,one closing the connection orifice of the duct to the box and the otherone closing the connection orifice of the duct to the open air. Theflaps 195, 196 are controlled by the jacks 197, 198 in such a way thatone duct is coupled to the box and the other one to the open air. Thesame fan 190 can thus, following the position of the flaps, attract themanipulated article with air circulation following arrow 199 or rejectand carry this article with circulation following arrow 200. Therotation of the fan can be permanent or interrupted when neitheraspiration nor exhaust are used.

In some embodiments, one belt only or a couple of parallel belts areprovided. In this case (see FIG. 8) the belt can be lifted by the aircushion which carries the sheet. By way of example, a box is provided,the upper wall of which is perforated 201, having a perforated recess202, forming accommodation for the belt 203. When the sheet 204 iscarried on the air cushion 205, the latter is alsopresent in recess 202,underneath the belt; this belt is thus pressed against the lower surfaceof the sheet and the sheet is carried away when the belt is moved. a Thedevice according to the invention enables any sheet material to behandled, such as glass, wood, metal, plastics materials. The power ofthe means for setting up depression and excess pressure must be adaptedto the weight of the sheets and to the orientations given thereto duringhandling. By way of example, it is safe to use an excess pressure of 50mm and a depression of 100 mm water column, the pressures beingdistributed over the whole surface according to FIGS. 1 and 2 tomanipulate sheets of glass up to 8 mm in thickness up to the verticalposition. In that case, perforations of 3 mm and 100 mm apart from oneanother in the two perpendicular directions are suitable fortransmitting the pressure and depression from the box to the surface ofthe sheet. Sheets having for example 200 to 4,000 mm in width and lengthcan be manipulated without great difficulties. Much smaller sheets thanthe box 4 or the equivalent apparatus can be manipulated. Many fluidscan suitably be used in the device according to the invention. Forinstance, the handling time can be used to cool a relatively hot sheetof glass by a cooling fluid. The invention is compatible with the use ofspecial fluids conferring particular physical or chemical properties onsheets handled thereby.

Similarly, the invention can be used so that the device and inter aliathe box may have means for processing the sheet handled, moreparticularly the face thereof not in contact with the fluid. Thus, forinstance, the box can have scoring and cutting means. This work can evenbe carried out during the various traversing and rotary movements of thedevice.

The invention also covers the handling of articles which are not in theshape of sheets, on condition that the articles have a flat or curvedsurface to which the depression and/or the excess pressure can beapplied, nor need such surface necessarily be the lowest portion of thearticle.

As can be gathered from the description of the various embodiments ofthe device according to the invention, a depression and an excesspressure can be set up successively in the same box or simultaneously inseparate parts of a box. The same surface, therefore,

i.e., the upper plane of the box, enables a sheet to be retained bydepression and successively or simultaneously be supported by excesspressure.

These advantages can be combined with the traversing movement of asurface as a result of the displacements of the lower and upper frames,and also the rotation of the surface by the tilting of the apron.

It will be understood that the above description of the presentinvention is susceptible to various modifications, changes andadaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within themeaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. An article handling device comprising, in combination:

an article supporting surface; means for forming at least one fluidcushion for at least partially supporting an article to be handled;

means for applying a pressure lower than the ambient pressure forpushing an article toward said article supporting surface, said pressureapplying means being disposed under at least a part of the position onsaid article supporting surface intended for such article;

entraining members; and,

means for positioning said members towards the position provided for anarticle to be handled.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said article supportingsurface forms part of the pressure applying means.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein the pressure applying meansare means for sucking fluid disposed under the position provided for thearticle to be handled.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 wherein the fluid cushion formingmeans include means for circulating a pressurized fluid and means foremitting fluid in the direction of the position provided for the articleto be handled.

5. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein the means for circulating apressurized fluid and the pressure applying means are incorporated in acommon fluid circuit in which the means of the second type feed themeans of the first type.

6. A device as defined in claim 4 further comprising separate connectingand disconnecting means for connecting and disconnecting the means foremitting fluid both to said pressure applying means and to said meansfor circulating a fluid.

7. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein the means for emitting a fluidinclude at least one box formed with apertures which extends at leastover substantially the whole extent of the position for articles to behandled.

8. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein the cushion forming means andpressure applying means are distributed in distinct zones along theposition provided for the article to be handled.

9. A device as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for emittingfluid which have a component of predetermined direction tangential tothe surface of the article.

10. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein the positioning means arearranged to displace the entraining members from a working positionpermitting the entraining of an article located above and in thevicinity of the article supporting surface to a position of restdifferent from the position of said article when it is supported overthe article supporting member by at least one fluid cushion.

11. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein the positioning means dependon the cushion forming means.

12. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein the entraining membersinclude at least two belts of concurrent direction and independentpositioning means for belts of different direction.

13. A device as defined in claim 12 wherein at least one belt isassociated with means for emitting fluid beneath the run adapted toentrain the article.

14. A device as defined in claim 1 further comprising articulating meansand tilting means for the article supporting surface.

15. A device as defined in claim 14, wherein said articulating means andtilting means are arranged to allow said article supporting surface tobe at least once substantially completely turned over.

16. A device as defined in claim 14 wherein at least two of thearticulating means have non-parallel articulating axes and are arrangedto be selectively placed in an operative position or a nonoperativeposition so that said tilting means tilt the article supporting surfacearound the axes of the articulating means which are in operativeposition.

17. A device as defined in claim 14 further comprising at least onesubstructure mounted for displacement on a track associated with thearticle supporting surface via said articulating means.

18. A device as defined in claim 17 wherein said track is part of a bodywhich itself is displaceable on a second track substantiallyperpendicular with the first track.

19. A device as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for movingat least a marginal zone of the article supporting surface in adirection substantially perpendicular thereto.

20. A device as defined in claim 19 wherein the means are means fordeforming said article supporting surface.

- 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION patent 3,695,459 D d October 3rd, 1972 Inventor(s) Andre Raes It is certifiedthat error appears in the above identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby correctedas shown below:

In the heading of the patent, line 3, change "S. A. Glaverbel" to-Glaverbel S.A.--; lines 3 and 4, change "Baitsfort" to -Boitsfort-.Column 5, line 24, change "button" to the--; line 58, after "in" inserta. Column 8 line 14 change "at" to -to-; line 21, change "sacking" to-packing--;

line 56, delete "the sheet" (second occurrence) Column 9, line 22,delete "contact" (secondoccurrence) Signed and sealed this 17th day ofApril 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOT T-SCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents ORM PO-IOSO (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 U.S. GOVERNMENTPRINTING OFFICE: I969 O3$6-334

1. An article handling device comprising, in combination: an articlesupporting surface; means for forming at least one fluid cushion for atleast partially supporting an article to be handled; means for applyinga pressure lower than the ambient pressure for pushing an article towardsaid article supporting surface, said pressure applying means beingdisposed under at least a part of the position on said articlesupporting surface intended for such article; entraining members; and,means for positioning said members towards the position provided for anarticle to be handled.
 2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein saidarticle supporting surface forms part of the pressure applying means. 3.A device as defined in claim 2 wherein the pressure applying means aremeans for sucking fluid disposed under the position provided for thearticle to be handled.
 4. A device as defined in claim 3 wherein thefluid cushion forming means include means for circulating a pressurizedfluid and means for emitting fluid in the direction of the positionprovided for the article to be handled.
 5. A device as defined in claim4 wherein the means for circulating a pressurized fluid and the pressureapplying means are incorporated in a common fluid circuit in which themeans of the second type feed the means of the first type.
 6. A deviceas defined in claim 4 further comprising separate connecting anddisconnecting means for connecting and disconnecting the means foremitting fluid both to said pressure applying means and to said meansfor circulating a fluid.
 7. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein themeans for emitting a fluid include at least one box formed withapertures which extends at least over substantially the whole extent ofthe position for articles to be handled.
 8. A device as defined in claim1 wherein the cushion forming means and pressure applying means aredistributed in distinct zones along the position provided for thearticle to be handled.
 9. A device as defined in claim 1 furthercomprising means for emitting fluid which have a component ofpredetermined direction tangential to the surface of the article.
 10. Adevice as defined in claim 1 wherein the positioning means are arrangedto displace the entraining members from a working position permittingthe entraining of an article located above and in the vicinity of thearticle supporting surface to a position of rest different from theposition of said article when it is supported over the articlesupporting member by at least one fluid cushion.
 11. A device as definedin claim 1 wherein the positioning means depend on the cushion formingmeans.
 12. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein the entraining membersinclude at least two belts of concurrent direction and independentpositioning means for belts of different direction.
 13. A device asdefined in claim 12 wherein at least one belt is associated with meansfor emitting fluid beneath the run adapted to entrain the article.
 14. Adevice as defined in claim 1 further comprising articulating means andtilting means for the article supporting surface.
 15. A device asdefined in claim 14, wherein said articulating means and tilting meansare arranged to allow said article supporting surface to be at leastonce substantially completely turned over.
 16. A device as defined inclaim 14 wherein at least two of the articulating means havenon-parallel articulating axes and are arranged to be selectively placedin an operative position or a non-operative position so that saidtilting means tilt the article supporting surface around the axes of thearticulating means which are in operative position.
 17. A device asdefined in claim 14 further comprising at least one substructure mountedfor displacement on a track associated with the article supportingsurface via said articulating means.
 18. A device as defined in claim 17wherein said track is part of a body which itself is displaceable on asecond track substantially perpendicular with the first track.
 19. Adevice as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for moving atleast a marginal zone of the article supporting surface in a directionsubstantially perpendicular thereto.
 20. A device as defined in claim 19wherein the means are means for deforming said article supportingsurface.